Ingrown Toenails & Nail Surgery
Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails (also known as onychocryptosis) are one of the most common complaints affecting the feet. They occur when a piece of nail pearces the nail sulcus adjacent to the nail and begins to grow into the skin.
Often caused by trauma, tight ill-fitting footwear, incorrect cutting of nails and irregular nail shape, ingrown nails will commonly appear red and swollen, painful, they may be infected and discharge puss.
Treatment
There are a number of different ways to treat ingrown toenails, and it is important you see your podiatrist to have the nail assessed. Not all ingrown nails will require surgery, and may easily be fixed in a single consultation by removing the cause of the problem (often a spike of nail).
If you suspect an ingrown nail, Chris Morey Podiatry can provide advice on the appropriate treatment and management of ingrown toenails.
Ingrown Nail Surgery
Partial Nail Avulsion
It is important to remember that there are a number of methods used to treat ingrown nails and that not all cases will require surgery.
The most common nail surgery performed by a Podiatrist is called a Partial Nail Avulsion. The procedure, outlined below is performed under local anaesthetic to numb the toe and generally takes less than 20 minutes to perform. You are able to walk immediately after the procedure has been performed and the area should be completely healed within a few weeks.
Once the toe is numb the nail plate is detatched from the nail bed
Special scissors are used to cut the section of nail to be removed
The ingrown section of nail is removed
A solution of Phenol (80%) is applied to kill the cells that grow the nail